Taz is back

Amarjot Kaur

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With Saanu chad ke na jaavi sun baliye playing in the distant corners of our mind, there is more than just the quality of that progressive pop Punjabi music of the nineties that one is reminded of on meeting Taz, who is back and this time with twice the bang!

Known for his contemporary dance music that defined the emerging Punjabi pop music in the late 90s, Taz gave popular hits under his band Stereo Nation, including Gallan Gooriyan te Gooriyan, Nachangay Saari Raat, and Thora Daaru Vich Pyaar. However, for those of you, who have been lamenting over the era of good music gone by, and Taz’s absence from the Punjabi music scene, well, make way for a new sound, which will, as Taz believes, will be creating waves, not noise!

So, we hear that you are coming up with a brand new album. Tell us all about it…

Well, I am coming up with an album titled O Laila Part II, which essentially is named after my album titled O Laila that was released long time ago. The name of the album remains unchanged because I believe that I am competing with myself and with nobody else. Also, I am really excited to be back.

But why did you pull a Houdini on us and where have you been all this while?

(Laughs) Well, absence makes the heart grow fonder! Does it not? I was doing shows abroad and was busy making music too. So, there was a lot going on my end. I think music is all about timing and now that I am here, you all will not be getting rid of me for more than three years now.

A lot has changed, especially when it comes to music, in Punjab. How do you look at it?

Well, I see that many Punjab kids, when it comes to music, want to be Yo Yo Honey Singh. I am not an avid fan of his, but he did introduce rap to the Punjabi audiences and I like some of his songs. However, I feel that the massive concern of Punjabi music industry, where it is lacking miserably, is the absence of content and songs that are evergreen. For instance, Challa by Gurdas Maan keeps playing in my car at any time you step in and we need those kinds of songs, but with an original twist.

Do you think that with your comeback in the industry, Punjabi music scene will witness a little change?

Well, that’s a little hard to say because my music is very global and the takers for it are people from the UK to Japan. However, my album will feature some interesting songs, which will be a cocktail of folk, contemporary dance music and even subtle sultry tracks. In fact, we are right now shooting for our brand-new single, titled Pag Ban, in my pind, Pathlawa.

Besides your single, are there any other projects that will be keeping you busy here?

I am here for long now and besides Pag Ban and my album, I am also touring around the region from April 25 to May 3 for a new project, which essentially is a collaboration with Bally Sagoo and Apache Indian and the song is called Pretty Baby!

Will you also be interested in acting in Punjabi film industry, now that it’s become a huge market too?

I am actually playing a key role in the film titled Dushman, which is a very interesting and different Punjabi film.

amarjot@tribunemail.com